I took this sensational photo thanks to "My English club"! You'll ask me: "How? In what way?" Well, here is my story!

It was 02.10.2011 at 19:50... I didn't visit "My English club" in a long time... I missed my "English club"'s friends! :-) I was busy very much with my work, but I always remembered about "My EC" and took various photos for all of you, my dear friends! :-)

Well, it was Sunday, 02.10.2011. It was evening...  It was unusual beautiful sunset... I looked out of my window - there was unusual lovely red sky! (In my region the red sky on sunset points cold, frost!) I thought of "My EC" and went out of my flat with my photo camera. I took my first photo near building, where I live... We can see this one (please, look on photo from above)- it's ordinary town's street on sunset! Of course, it's ordinary, if to consider it without color of the sky! 

I decided to go towars the town's church. I thought: "It will be a good photo - the church is agains a background of the red sky! I'll post this photo in "My EC" - it will be cute!" :-)

I met with my student Tatiana and her soulmate (I don't know, what's her name). Tatiana (we can see her on photo from above - she is a girl on the left) had an illness and she was operated a few months ago. It was a major operation for spine. Tatiana don't visit a school now, so I stopped  my movement - I wanted to speak about her studies. Then I took a portrait of two soulmates. :-) And I went on my way. I saw, that the lovely red sky on the left, and the church - on straight ahead. I thought: "I cann't take a nice photo - the sunset are on the left, and there isn't the red sky as a background for the church!" I didn't know, what wonder wait for me soon! :-)

I took one more photo - we can see the moon on the left and an old rusty fence! :-))) I was dissatisfied again - the fence was not good-looking! :-)! I wanted to stand in such way, the fence was invisible, but it was dark, and I was afraid, I fall into bushes! :-)))

At last, I was near the church! I took my fist photo of chuch. Yeas, the lovely sunset was seen badly! I took one more photos. What did I want? I don't know! I always do a few frames of one subject. But what did I see on my display in that time? Wow! A shadow of an angel above church! Fantastic! I thought: "No! That's impossible! It's mistake!" And I turned my camera and took last photo - there isn't any shadow. I'm sorry now, that  I turned my camera - who knows, perhaps, it will be another sensational photo - flying  angel, angel into movement! Alas! I was confused, perplexsed... It was my unpardonable, inexcusable omission! I'm sorry very much!

Now I console myrself, I have one sensational photo of angel!  It is better, then nothing! :-)

Of course, we can think anything about it, whatever we like - angel, alien (extraterrestrial), optical effect, etc... But this photo is unique! What do you think about it?

I dedicate these photos and my blog to "My English club", because I took the photo of angel thanks to "My English club"! :-)

Thank you very much for your attention!

Hello, my dear friends!

I want to tell you about school exam's time in my country - Russia. This time was starting 26.05.2011 and it will be in progress one month - to 25.06.2011.

Do you want to feel yourself a student? Example, a student of Russian elementary school? I can help you with that! :-)

I work in a school as a teacher of Russian language and literature and know very well what kind of tests are brought forward for students of different forms.

 I bring forward a real literature exam's test, which has been  translated from Russian by me.  :-) This test is intended for ten-eleven yeas pupils of Russian elementary school as a final test. I hope, that will be interesting for you. :-) Please, do this test and feel yourself like Russian students of Four Form! :-)

To go wrong

Once upon a time, Wolf lived in his den. He never repaired and cleaned his dwelling. It was dirty and old – it was ready to tumble down!

Elephant passed by Wolf’s den. He touched the roof barely – and it became lop-side (sinked to one side).

- Excuse me, please, buddy! – Elephant said to Wolf. – I made it accidentally! I will repair it now!

Elephant was Jack of all trades (an excellent master) and he wasn’t afraid any work. He took a hammer, nails and repaired the roof. The roof became stronger then it had been.

“Oho! – Wolf thought. – Elephant, I see, is afraid of me! At first, he apologized to me, and then he repaired my roof! I will force him to build me a new house! If he is afraid,  he will be obedient!”

- Stop! – Wolf clamoured. – You think, you will get off me easy, won’t you? You displaced my roof on one side (awry) and want to go away!  Build me a new house! Quickly!  Do what I tell you, otherwise you’ll be sorry! I’ll teach you, and your own mother won't recognize you!

Elephant didn’t answer, when he heard these words. He caught Wolf across and flung his into cesspool. Then he sat down on Wolf’s dwelling and crushed it.

- It’s your new house! – Elephant said and went away.

- I nothing understood! – Wolf wondered when he came to himself. – Initially Elephant was afraid of me, apologized to me, and then he acted in that way…I nothing understood!

- Utter fool! – Old Raven, who saw that,  cawed. – You simply don’t see the difference between cowardice and good breeding!

Part 1

Choose the right answer:

1. Where lived Wolf?

            1) in his den

            2) in a field

            3) at lair

2. What kind of dwelling had Wolf? (choose two variants of answer)

            1) dirty

            2) comfortable

            3) old

3. Why did Wolf think, that Elephant was afraid of him? (choose two variants of answer)

            1) Elephant repaired his roof

            2) Elephant built a new house for him

            3) Elephant apologized to him

4. How do you understand  the phrase (idiomatic expression) “Jack of all trades”?

            1) one, who isn’t afraid of work

            2) one, who can do all things

            3) one, who don’t deny assistance to others

5. How do you think, what adjective is suitable for Elephant?

            1) cowardly

            2) good- bred (with good manners)

            3) irresolute

6. Think of what meaning of the definition “old” is more important for understanding the image of Raven?

            1) one, who have a great knowledge of life

            2) decrepit

            3) one, who lives for a long time

7. Why did Elephant  become angry with Wolf?

            1) He didn’t want to build a new house for Wolf

            2) He was filled with indignation at behaviour of Wolf

            3) He was stronger then Wolf

8. How do you understand the phrase “to go wrong”?

            1) to make an error in counting

            2) to miscalculate

Part 2

Give a brief answer:

9. Enumerate the characters of the fable (allegory):

10. Explain, why the author wrote names of animals using capital letters?

11. Restore the right succession of Elephant's actions  towards Wolf’s den.

            A) touched

            B) passed

            C) repaired

12. Write out of the text the idiomatic expression, that defines Elephant.

13. Think up your own title for this fable (allegory).

14. Give your advice for Wolf.

Part 3

Formulate and write your answer (5 – 6 sentences) to this question:

15. Do you like this text and why?

Right answers:

Part 1: #1 – 1;  #2 - 1, 3 ; #3 - 1,3;  #4 -  2;  #5 -  2;  #6 – 1;  #7 – 2;  #8 – 2.

Part 2: #9 – Wolf, Elephant, Old Raven; #10 – The author turned the names of the species of animals into their own names; #11 – B, A, C;  #12 -  Jack of the trades; #13 – free answer; #14 – free answer.

Part 3: free answer.

May, 9 - the great day in World's history.

It's Day of Great Victory over fascism.

Second World War is the most bloody war in the history of humanity. Sovit Union won a victory in this war, vanquished fascist Germany, but price of victory was more than twenty millions of human's lives. Other countries lost  many millions people too! Let's remember about it and say together:

Down with all war!

We want no more.

May there always be sunshine!

May there always be blue skies!

May there always be mommy!

May there always be me!

Russian people always remember about this great tragedy. On this day the songs about war are sounded everywhere. I present you one song of this kind. It's a very famous song "Cranes" by Yan Frenkel (music) and Rasul Gamzatov (text).

Cranes

Sometimes I dream that fallen hero soldiers,
Forever lost in brutal old campaigns,
Were never buried under mournful alders,
But turned to mystic snowy crying cranes.
Since then they wing and wing and cry till now.
We recognize the hearty darling voice.
We pray in sorrow, souls don’t allow
To take the look away without choice.

The tired flock soars up toward the clouds.
I see a tiny brake in their line:
Someone should exit noisy human crowds.
I realize: one day lot should be mine.
One day the flock shell raise me to the cloud
And I will fly with others – don’t cry!
I will put on the cloud as a shroud
And I will hail you faintly from the sky.

This poem by a famous Avarian poet of Soviet time Rasul Gamzatov

An English translation by Semion Ventsymerov

Sergey Zykov sing the song "Cranes" by Yan Frenkel and Rasul Gamzatov. Video from Youtube.

Video "Cranes" from Youtube. The song is performed by Dmitriy Hvorostovskiy

Information: Robert Burns is famous Scottish poet (1759 - 1796). Russian people know his poems very good thanks to movies, where the songs with his text rings (sounds). One of these films -  Hello, I'm Your Aunt!" Russian director Victor Titov shoots this film (musical comedy, based on the play Charley 's Aunt" by Brandon Thomas) in 1975. The tango "The Love and the Poverty" from this film became very popular in Russia. We can hear the song in the end of blog (video).

14 February is the Valentine's Day - the Day of all beloveds.

The Love is great happiness! Money is not bad too! :-) Let's speak about that!

I suggest you my modest (unpretentious) translation Russian version of Scottish poem by Robert Burns. :-))) And original version too! :-)

The love and the Poverty

The Love and the Poverty  caught me in their  nets once and for all (I was caught in the nets of the Love and the Poverty once and for all). But the Poverty would not be a great tragedy (misfortune, trouble) for me, if would not be the Love in the World! (The Poverty is a great tragedy, when I am in Love!)

Why does the Fate (Destine) always hampers (impedes) the Love (Why does the Fate always is rival in Love)?  Why does the Love is a slave of riches and success?

The Riches and the Glory bring luck a little in the end. And I feel sorry for cravens and fools, who resign oneself to their power.

Your eyes sparkle in answer, when I lose my head. But your lips give me an advice to keep a wisdom (prudence).

But how can I keep a wisdom (prudence), when I am near with you! But how can I keep a wisdom, when I meet with you by glance (when our eyes meet)?

Oh, poor man with his simple love is happy in the world, because he doesn’t envy rich class (estate).

Oh, why does cruel lifetime is always hampers (impedes) the Love? Why does the Flower of Love isn’t blossoming without Glory and Success!

Is there for honest poverty
That hangs his head, an’ a’ that
The coward slave, we pass him by
We dare be poor for a’ that
For a’ that, an’ a’ that
Our toil’s obscure and a’ that
The rank is but the guinea’s stamp
The man’s the gowd for a’ that

What though on hamely fare we dine
Wear hoddin grey, an’ a’ that
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine
A man’s a man, for a’ that
For a’ that, an’ a’ that
Their tinsel show an’ a’ that
The honest man, though e’er sae poor
Is king o’ men for a’ that

Ye see yon birkie ca’d a lord
Wha struts an’ stares an’ a’ that
Tho’ hundreds worship at his word
He’s but a coof for a’ that
For a’ that, an’ a’ that
His ribband, star and a’ that
The man o’ independent mind
He looks an’ laughs at a’ that

A prince can mak’ a belted knight
A marquise, duke, an’ a’ that
But an honest man’s aboon his might
Gude faith, he maunna fa’ that
For a’ that an’ a’ that
Their dignities an’ a’ that
The pith o’ sense an’ pride o’ worth
Are higher rank that a’ that

Then let us pray that come it may
(as come it will for a’ that)
That Sense and Worth, o’er a’ the earth
Shall bear the gree an’ a’ that
For a’ that an’ a’ that
It’s coming yet for a’ that
That man to man, the world o’er
Shall brithers be for a’ that

Wikipedia about Robert Burns

Russian people began to celebrate  the Day of Saint Valentine about 10 – 15 yeas ago. This holiday came in Russia from countries of West Europe. History of this holiday is very interesting.

The beginnings of this holiday originates in Age of Claudius II (Claudius Gothicus, a Roman emperor). Claugius II was sure, that the best warriors are those men only, who did not burden by family ties, bonds. So he banned to marry for his soldiers. But one of Christian priests, Valentine, married (performed a marriage ceremony) all of warriors, who were in love with their girls, the secretly.

When emperor learned about secret weddings, Valentine was executed. Before his death Valentine leaved a letter in the form of heart for his beloved girl.

Traditional valentines  (the red cards-heart)   appeared in that way! These valentines are cut out from paper or bought as postal card. We can address words of love not only our beloved (our second part), but family and friends too.

Usually people write only name of addressee on the valentines -  it is considered, that the red heart speaks without words! Incidentally, if you want to add element of mysteriousness, you can don’t write name of sender!

The most popular present in this day  - chocolate, which can be in form heart too.

But it is unimportant, what kind present you gift – plush toy or romantic supper.

It is main – your attention and sincere, heartfelt words of the Love! And these words we should speak not only 14 February, on the Day of Saint Valentine, but every day in our life!

Wikipedia about Claudius II (Gothicus)

The Death of Saint Sebastian in painting

Bella Akhmadulina

                                                                 

Along my street for many years
I hear footsteps – my friends are leaving.
My friends’ slow leave
Is delightful to the darkness outside.

My friends’ affairs are unsettled,
There is no music at their homes, no singing.
And, just like before, Degas' girls
Are fixing their bluish feathers.

Well, well, not let the fear wake
You, defenceless, in the middle of this night.
To the deception, mysterious passion,
My friends, is blurring your sight.

Oh loneliness, how abrupt is your character!
Shining with an iron compass,
How coldly you close the circle,
Ignoring the useless convincement.

So summon and award me!
Your spoilt child, caressed by you,
I will be consoled, leaning on your chest
Will wash my face with your cold blueness.

Let me tiptoe in your forest,
On the other end of slowed down gesture
Find leaves and bring them to my face
And feel the orphanhood like pleasure.

Grant me the silence of your libraries,                         
Your concerts’ strict motives,
And – wise – I will forget all those
Who died and who are still living.

And I will learn the wisdom and the sorrow,
The objects will trust me with their secret meanings.
The nature, leaning on my shoulders,
Will declare its’ childish secrets.

And then – from the tears, and the darkness,
From poor ignorance of the past
My friends’ beautiful features
Will appear and disappear at last.

1959


Bella Akhmadulina

It isn’t a secret – most of megalopolis’ inhabitants (and also townspeople and countryfolk) feel
themselves solitary, lonely. 

  Even successful people, living in their great, enormous
houses or block of flats (apartment block), are leaving to their own resources  (devices). And if they find an interlocutor or
soul friend, their communication (personal contact) isn’t lasting long. People continue
to look for contact with others, but they don’t find its…

We complain about loneliness, solitude, but we can’t get on with other people. Why? We endeavour to escape away from loneless in nightclubs,
the Internet, strange “get-togethers”, gatherings, parties, hangouts… But we
can't get away from it – every time, we, coming home, feel a great weight of
our solitude, a burden of loneliness, a heavy load to bear!

What is a reason of this feeling? I think, the reason is a sense of our peculiarity. Each of us differs from other people. We see and feel that. This filling was given to us by the
Nature. If we will compare one stone with others, we can’t see essential
distinctions – maybe, a form and size only. The plants of one kind have got noticeable
differences. The animals are possessed
of great peculiarities and characteristics – everyone can see that.

The peculiarities become apparent at the most from people. And what is more, every full-blown (advanced, developed) person aspires to accentuate his individuality in his
habits, taste, predilections, style, manner, life’s views and opinions. The
more of person’s intellectual  development, the loneliness is deeper. This
differ separates, detaches him/her from society, so he/she finds like-minded
persons (persons holding the same views) once in a blue moon (very seldom).

Every person feels by nature, that he/she is the center of the Universe. Other people exist for fulfillment of his/ her wishes! So every person aspires to exploit others for
the own benefit of him/ her, and there is no necessity to do something for
others, to give something in return (in his/ her opinion). Often the person
does something for others by force! The person aspires to use others with a
great ruse, cunning, guile – in that way, that they can’t feel the
manipulations!

It is a persons’ nature!
It is a law, which lives in person’s heart! We can call this law like the Law of Universe. Nobody can avoid its influence.

                                                           This law isn’t good or bad, because this law is
a reality of the Nature.

The person has a right of choice  - how does person uses this law? The first choice others for banal enjoyments, the second – for an authority,
power, the third – for a honor and glory.

The person, exploiting others for enjoyments, is out of loneliness, solitude. But when the person does some thing in return, he/ she become dependent on others, because he/ she try
to keep others. At that time the person feels connection, relations with other
people and get out of the loneliness, solitude!

Anonimous autor said: "People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges".

I wish you to build the bridges!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

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